PM Koretskyi Condemns Negligence After Deadly Bucha Explosions

Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi has harshly condemned the "criminal negligence" that led to deadly explosions in Bucha, demanding severe punishment for those responsible. After a Russian strike at an enterprise in the Kyiv region caused secondary detonations, casualties, and mass evacuations, Koretskyi expressed his disappointment, stating that the incident demonstrated a failure to learn from past tragedies.

The Prime Minister shared his concerns on Telegram, emphasizing that repeating the same mistakes during the fifth year of full-scale invasion constitutes criminal negligence and must be met with strict repercussions. He also ordered the temporary closure of the Kyiv-Chop highway to enable urgent rescue and evacuation efforts.

At least 200 individuals, including children, were evacuated following the ongoing fire and explosions that lasted into Saturday, Aug. 29. The Kyiv Regional Military Administration's head, Tymur Tkachenko, confirmed fatalities and injuries, though the exact number of victims remains unclear. An operational headquarters has been established at the scene, with emergency services working tirelessly to combat the blaze.

The secondary explosions were triggered by a Russian drone that attacked an enterprise in Myla, a village in the Bucha district, around 8:10 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 28.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into alleged official negligence, scrutinizing whether explosive materials were legally stored at the site and if the required permits were obtained. The initial blast and subsequent fires spread to nearby residential areas, resulting in the destruction of one private house and damage to seven others, a food establishment, and an elderly residence.

This incident marks a tragic 24-hour period of relentless Russian drone attacks across the Kyiv region. Earlier on Friday morning, a separate Russian strike in Bucha killed one person and hospitalized another with shrapnel wounds. The earlier strikes on Friday in Fastiv, Boryspil, Vyshhorod, Brovary, and Bucha districts left at least nine people injured and damaged numerous warehouses, homes, and vehicles.